patton was born in san gabriel california. patton attended west point and served as an officer in the army's brand new tank corps during world war i. by sheer chance the armistice that ended the war in 1918 was declared on his 33rd birthday, november 11, the date we now mark as veterans day. by world war ii george patton was a general credited with decisive u.s. victories in north africa, france, and germany. along the way he attracted public attention with his very personal and sometimes controversial style of leadership. portrayed by george c. scott in the 1974 film "patton." from the rousing way he addressed his troops... >> all real americans love the sting of battle. >> osgood: ... to the widely reported incident in 1943 when he slapped a soldier hospitalized with combat fatigue. >> you're just a god-damned coward. i don't want a young bastard sitting here crying in front of these men wounded in battle. >> reporter: patton lived down the notoriety of that outburst to become a national hero by war's end. during a brief ret